Bill Text: FL S2210 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Japan
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [S2210 Detail]
Download: Florida-2011-S2210-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2011 (NP) SR 2210
By Senator Sobel
31-04785-11 20112210__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution expressing Florida’s deepest sympathies
3 for and continuing solidarity with Japan in the wake
4 of the country’s recent disaster.
5
6 WHEREAS, on March 11, 2011, an 8.9-magnitude offshore
7 earthquake struck northeastern Japan and, as the most intense
8 quake ever recorded for the region, unleashed destructive
9 tsunamis minutes later, wreaking horrific devastation and
10 indeterminate loss of life in the area, and
11 WHEREAS, the State of Florida has enjoyed a strong
12 relationship with Japan in the areas of finance, commerce,
13 culture, security, and education, and
14 WHEREAS, with trade steadily increasing, Japan is currently
15 one of the state’s two leading foreign investors, recently
16 averaging $4.16 billion; Japanese companies employ an estimated
17 21,000 people in Florida in areas such as wholesale trade,
18 retail trade, and manufacturing; Florida exports approximately
19 $781 million in goods and services to Japan, including civilian
20 aircraft, motor vehicles, office machines, citrus, and
21 fertilizer; and, at an average of $3.9 billion, the state
22 imports more from Japan than any other country except China,
23 mostly in motor vehicles and aircraft, communications equipment,
24 machinery, and medical supplies, and
25 WHEREAS, through cooperative efforts such as the Status of
26 Forces Agreement (SOFA) and various other agreements, the Armed
27 Forces of the United States work closely with Japan in defense
28 coordination, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian relief
29 efforts, intelligence sharing, and mutual military support, an
30 alliance that continues to promote security and peace in the Far
31 East region and throughout the world, and
32 WHEREAS, the number of American students studying in Japan
33 has increased 57 percent over the course of the decade, and, as
34 a result, Japan grants more student visas to Americans than to
35 any other non-Asian country; conversely, the number of Japanese
36 students currently in the United States approaches 25,000, and
37 WHEREAS, with Japanese travelers accounting for almost two
38 thirds of visitors from Asia to the United States in 2005, both
39 the United States and Florida owe much of their success in
40 tourism to the citizens of Japan, and
41 WHEREAS, the people of Florida have been moved by the news
42 of the losses and suffering of the people of Japan and, through
43 their representatives, wish to express their feelings of
44 sympathy and solidarity, NOW, THEREFORE,
45
46 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
47
48 That in recognition of the United States’ and Florida’s
49 close ties to Japan across a broad spectrum, including in the
50 areas of commerce, security, education, and culture, and to
51 express the state’s deepest sympathies toward the nation and its
52 people in the wake of their most devastating natural disaster to
53 date, the Florida Senate hereby declares and demonstrates its
54 profound sorrow at the loss of life and its strong bond of
55 friendship and solidarity with the Japanese people as they
56 embark upon their recovery from this tragedy.
57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
58 presented to Ichiro Fujisaki, Ambassador Extraordinary and
59 Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of America, and to
60 United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, as a
61 tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.
